Torso exercising machines



Dec. 12, 1961 G. HOTAS TORSO EXERCISING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 18, 1959 lryveryfor Leon 6. Ho'las AGtNT Dec. 12, 1961 Filed Aug. 18, 1959 L. G. HOTAS TORSO EXERCISING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lryve qfor Leon 6. Hoias Z LM AGENT 3,012,776 Fatented Dec. 12, 1961 3,ii12,776 TQRSO EXERQESENG MACHINES Leon G. Hotas, 19d (lshorne St. N., Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Filed Aug. is, 1959,5enN0. 834,605 (Ilaims. (tCl. 2i2-58} The invention relates to machines for exercising and strengthening the pivotal portions and muscles of the abdomen, including the back, trunk, lateral and extensor muscles therefor; particularly when same have been weakened following surgery, spinal injuries, poliornyelitis, paralysis, neurological conditions, or paralysis agitans, usually occurring in advanced life (Parkinsons disease); although they can also be used for relieving muscular strains and stresses of the abdomen, or improving the physical condition in healthy people, such as athletes.

The principal objects of the invention are: to provide an exercise table to receive the patient in a lying down or horizontal plane position, thus obtaining total body support and eliminate the weight effect of gravity on the limbs and muscles during the exercises; providea movable platform adjacent the table for partial patient support, including a pivot or swivel therebetween for alignment with the pivotal portions of the abdomen, and such that said portions can be exercised, stretched and developed by the operator; or said muscles can be mobilized and developed by the patient, who can personally exercise them against constant applied weight, which of course can be adjusted to the strength condition of said patient.

Further objects of the invention are: to provide means whereby a constant weight can be maintained on specified abdominal or unilateral spinal muscles for curvature correction or straightening; provide means whereby applied weight will operate against joints at predetermined set angles of said pivotal portions, as the patient exercises the controlling muscles thereof; and provide means where- I by the patient can release said weight to a position of rest until his strength is sufi'iciently restored for further effort.

A further object of the invention is to provide backing means on the machine to retain the patient in position thereon for proper exercising of said muscles and joints.

Further objects, of an abstract nature, are: to design the machine whereby the patient will have full control of the exercising movements; free from gravity resistance, and resting at will; for complete mental concentration; and so confidently build up co-ordination between the brain and muscles; while such relaxation and lack of inhibitions will have a profound psychic effect on his well being to further enhance fast health restoration.

Still further objects of the invention are: toproduce the machine in a simple construction, so very little can go wrong and cost of manufacture is reduced to a minimum; rugged, smooth and quiet in operation, for many years of satisfactory and useful health restoring work; and of a well finished pleasing design which will readily match with any type of olhce or medical equipment as an important and necessary adjunct thereto.

With the above important, and other minor objects in view, which will become more apparent as the description proceeds, the invention consists essentially in the design, construction and arrangement of the parts hereinafter more particularly described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the complete machine.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken centrally and longitudinally through the machine.

FlGURE 3 is a horizontal section at 3-3, FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged perspective view'of the 7 -33 of the V-pulley 31. The upper 31:11 46 of the bell V complete locking mechanism, the principal moving parts, and showing some of the construction.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the body clamps, and adjustments therefor.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged central longitudinal section through the manual locking control.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

A horizontal U-shaped main frame it is preferably formed from tubing, and the ends of the U are outwardly bent, as indicated at 11 in FIGURE 3. A cross tubing 12 connects the ends of the U-shaped tubing, just before the outward bend. This main frame is supported slightly above the floor on four rubber cushions, indicated at 13.

A pair of tubular legs 14, of less diameter, extend upwardly from the main frame. These legs are positioned forward of the cross tubing 12 and are connected by an upper and lower cross member 15, also formed from tubing. An angular support tubing 16 extends forward and upwardly from the bottom of each leg and they, together with the legs, terminate in end plates i7, which are fastened to a horizontal U-shaped angle iron frame 18. The front cross member of this latter frame is centrally supported from a tubular standard 1?, through a connecting plate 20, said standard extending upwardly from the front centre of the main frame it). This latter angle iron frame is secured to and supports a flat member 21, which with the legs and other supports, presents a table 22.

A pair of horizontal tubings 23 each extend rearwardly inward from the upper end of each of the legs 14 and centrally connect at 24, directly over the central part of the cross tubing 12 of the main frame. is rotatably mounted through both of these points, preferably in ball bearings (not shown). A pair of forked support tubings 25 extend rearwardly upward from the bottom end of this shaft, each fork to one end of a horizontal cross tubing 27. A central horizontal tubing 28 extends rearwardly from the upper end of said shaft, above the upper bearing thereof, to the centre of the cross tubing 27, so that said latter cross tubing is actually supported by a triangular-shapedtruss. A pair of horizontally spaced angle irons 29 have their rear ends connected together by said cross tubing 27, and they in turn support, with the tubing 23, a platform 30. It will be seen that the platform, with truss support and vertical shaft 25, will swing on the bearings of this shaft, and form a spaced extension of the table 22.

A V-pulley 31 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 25, approximately at the centre thereof, and the rear halfof the .fiange 32 of this pulley is provided with a series of spaced holes 33 in an arc thereon. A pair of cable ends 34 are each secured to one of the opposite end holes 33 of said pulley, as indicated at 35. The two cables join at '36, and are actually the bifurcated rear ends of a cable' 37 which passes forwardly under a tackle sheave 38 in the wall of the tubular standard 19, then up inside the standard to pass over a tackle sheave 39 at the top thereof, and then down the outer side, to connect with the upper end of a weight carrier 49. It will be seen from this conruction that when the V-pulley 31 is turned in either direction, one of the bifurcated ends of the cable will wind thereon while the other will slacken, and the carrier, with.

any weight which may be thereon, will be lifted. In other words, the tubular standard, with tackle sheaves and cable, form a hoist 41. j A small strap-shaped bridge 42 has its ends carried by the forked support tubings 26, just rearwardly of the V- I pulley 31. 'The central part of this bridge pivotally receives at 43, a bell crank 44 havinga lower arm 45 which, when turned clockwise, will enter one of 'theholes A vertical shaft 25 crank is connected by a pitman 47 with a manual control 48, now to be described.

The above mentioned manual control consists of a plate 49 suspended from the central part of the cross tubing 27. Its lower end presents a short rearwardly projecting tube 50 which is cut ofi at an angle, as indicated at 51. A small tube 52 is pressed through the tube 50 and projects past the angular end 51, as shown at 53. A tube 54 of the same outer diameter as the tube 50 has its front end cut off at the same angle, and it is provided with a handle 55. This latter tube slidably telescopes over the projecting end 53 of the tube 52 so the two angular ends meet. A rod 56 has one end thereof suitably secured to the rear end of the pitman 47 while its opposite end is threaded. This threaded end is slidably passed through the tubes 52 and 54 and then receives a nut 57. A coil spring 58 encloses the pitman and is resiliently held against the tube 52 by a washer 59 which in turn is held by a pin 60 which passes through the pitman. Accordingly, when the handle 55 is rotated half a turn, the angled ends of the tubes climb each other, thus pulling the pitman, tightening the sping 58 and withdrawing the arm 45 from its hole 33 on the V-pulley 31. The nut 57 can be tightened to insure this release, or place greater friction against the turning of the handle 55. When the handle is released, the spring 58 will return the parts to their place, including the entrance of the arm 45 back into the hole 33 of the V-pulley 31, depending on the position of course of the platform in relation to the V-pulley.

From the above construction it will be seen that the weight carrier 40 will normally act through the cable 37 to draw both bifurcated ends 34 forward to the taughtened V-shape shown in FIGURE 3, and hold the V-pulley still. The control 48 is normally in the release position so the platform 30 is free to rotate around the rear end of the pulley 31. Accordingly, the control can be released at any position therebehind and the platform be connected again to the pulley through the arm 45 of the bell crank, and with any one of the holes 33 therein. From then on, any swinging movement of the platform will wind one of the bifurcated ends of the cable onto the pulley and the other end will slacken, while the weight carrier will be lifted. In the same way, the platform can be brought back, or will freely swing back, to the position where the connection was made to the V-pulley, and it will be held in that position by the weight carrier. In other words; a position of rest.

By observing FIGURES 1 and it will be seen that backing plates 61 are provided on the sides of both the table and the platform. These plates will normally be covered with padded fabric (not shown) so they will not injure the patient. A tubing 62 extends back from each plate and is provided with spaced holes 63 therealong. The tubing 62 slides through the upper end of a bracket 64. A hand operable pin 65 passes through a hole in the bracket and into one or other of the holes 63, for in and out adjustment of the plate. The lower end of the bracket is slidably mounted on a side tubing 66, each end of which is secured to the angle iron frame of either the table or the platform by spacing fasteners 67. A further hand operable pin 65 passes through a hole in the bracket and into one of a series of spaced holes 68 in the side tubing 66. These hand operable pins hold the plate where desired and prevents it from rotating on the bracket, or the bracket rotating on the tubing 66.

In operation, the patient is laid lengthwise along both the table and the platform, and the backing plates 61 are then adjusted to retain the patient thereon. The patient may lay on his back, front, or either side, or with his body on the table and legs on the platform, or vice versa. The main thing is to have the abdominal joints to be exercised aligned approximately over the vertical shaft 25. Each position results in solid support of the body, and as the movable parts of the joints will always swing i horizontally with the platform, when it is moved, they operate free from the effects of gravity and its friction. This gives the patient confidence and therefor results in complete relaxation, which in turn sets the stage for attaining the utmost in remedial results.

Very early spinal mobilization exercises may be carried out, first by the operator manually moving the platform back and forth in gradual increasing swings, to properly operate the joints and teach co-ordination between the brain and the muscles. The increasing swings are necessary to stretch the joints, over a period of time, to full movement. Then, as the patients confidence and ability is built up, he takes over and personally operates the muscles to swing the platform. Greater loads are gradually placed on the weight carrier, and these loads are constant at all swing operable positions. By connecting the platform to different positions on the V-pulley 31, the patient can exercise by either pulling or pushing the weights, or bring the platform to a neutral position on the V-pulley for rest when tired, and then start over again with renewed strength, without requiring the attention of the operator.

By being placed in different positions to operate the platform, and with the other adjustments above mentioned, the patient eventually builds up strength by personal exercise of the abdominal, back, lateral trunk flexion, bi-lateral hip flexions and extensor muscles. As the patient can be held in so many fixed positions, this machine can be very advantageously used in treating spinal curvatures. This is done by stretching and developing specified unilateral spinal muscles, and especially by maintaining pressures thereon for periods of time. As strength returns, new hope permeates the patient, gives incentive for further effort, and results are amazing.

As previously mentioned, this machine can also be used by athletes to develop torso muscles for particular athletic purposes.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A torso exercising machine, comprising: a table; a platform pivotally supported from said table for horizontal swinging movement thereon; a pulley rotatable on said platform pivotal support; means for releasably locking said platform to said pulley for joint rotation of both; a lifting cable having one end thereof normally supporting a weight and the other end thereof secured to and windable on said pulley, when same is rotated by said platform and backing means on said table, and backing means on said platform, for retaining a recumbent patient thereon, with the abdominal joints of said patient over said pivoted support.

2. A torso exercising machine, comprising: a table; a platform pivotally supported from said table for horizontal swinging movement thereon; a pulley rotatable on said platform pivotal support; means for releasably locking said platform to said pulley at pre-determined positions therearound, and for joint rotation of both; a lifting cable having one end thereof normally supporting a weight and the other end thereof secured to and windable on said pulley, when same is rotated by said platform and backing means on said table, and backing means on said platform, for retaining a horizontal lying patient on both, with the abdominal joints of said patient over said pivotal support.

3. A torso exercising machine, comprising: a table; a platform pivotally supported from said table for horizontal swinging movement thereon; a pulley rotatable on said platform pivotal support; means for releasably locking said platform to said pulley for joint rotation of both; a lifting cable having one end thereof tackle mounted in a hoist and normally supporting a weight; the other end of said cable secured to and windable on said pulley, when same is rotated by said platform and backing means on said table, and backing means on said platform, for retaining a horizontal lying patient on both, with the abdominal joints of said patient over said pivotal support.

4. A torso exercising machine, comprising: a table; a platform pivotally supported from said table for horizontal swinging movement thereon; a pulley rotatable on said platform pivotal support, and operable by the swinging movement of said platform; a bifurcated lifting cable having the single end thereof tackle mounted in a hoist and normally supporting a weight; the opposite bifurcated ends of said cable each attached to an opposite side of said pulley, and each Windable thereon, in the swinging movement of said platform, in one direction; and backing means on said table, and backing means on said platform, for retaining a horizontal lying patient thereon, with the abdominal joints of said patient over said pivotal support.

5. A torso exercising machine, comprising: a table; a platform pivotally supported from said table for horizontal swinging movement thereon; a pulley rotatable on said platform pivotal support; means for releasably locking said platform to said pulley at pre-determined positions therearound, and for rotation of said pulley thereby; a bifurcated lifting cable having the single end thereof tackle mounted in a hoist and normally supporting a Weight; the opposite bifurcated ends of said cable each attached to an opposite side of said pulley and each windable thereon, when same is rotated by said platform, in one direction and backing means on said table, and backing means on said platform, for retaining a recumbent patient thereon, with the pelvis of said patient over said 10 pivotal support.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 15 1,314,597 Koenigkramer Sept. 2, 1919 1,337,145 McManis Apr. 13, 1920 2,689,127 Silverton et a1 Sept. 14, 1954 

